It'a a Little Chilly Out

Thankfully, there wan't any wind to speak of during our snow Tuesday night and Wednesday - and it isn't windy or breezy now - winds are "calm" and it's all of five degrees outside.  The sun is shining, and fog is developing on the roadways.  The big worry out driving today is unseen ice on the road...  I'm not going out, unless there's an emergency for one of my clients.  - I'm sitting here, in my desk chair, wearing slippers, sweatpants and a T-shirt.  And I'm warm enough that I've pulled my hair back into a ponytail so my neck won't sweat...   I'll put my boots on later and go out and sweep the balcony clean.
   Beatrice, my room-mate, just left with Mike.  They spent yesterday afternoon working on a Christmas surprise for Mike's wife Sarah, and they're hoping to get it finished today.  A week ago I introduced Lovey to Bea's new waterbed mattress, one that is "waveless."  Now, every morning at 9:30, Lovey goes and gets on Bea's bed, and follows the sunshine from the window across Bea's king size mattress.  She just luxuriates in the warmth and the sun.  When the sun is not shining, she whines and complains to both of us, as if we can turn the sun on for her...
   Nedi is working apace on his newest art project. He loves boxes.  Smaller ones, and crisp paper, he shreds with his teeth - but he loves to artfully claw and scratch large boxes.  The only large one we have inside is the one that Bea's old waterbed mattress is packed in.  We need to take it down into the basement storage area, but Nedi is having a delightful time clawing and scratching the upperreaches of the box.  He was actually swinging by his front paws, with hind feet and tail off the floor, yesterday morning.  It means we sweep the floor daily, and sometimes thrice; but it keeps the boy happy and he doesn't attack the furniture.
   We're supposed to warm up to 40 degrees tomorrow, so I'll be walking Rosie again.  I spent yesterday with Tessa, Cleo, Lily and Lyra - walked Tessa and Cleo for 45 minutes in the snow at 1 p.m. and then stayed inside as  much as possible.  I turned the dogs loose every 90 minutes to go run and play and use the bathroom in the snow, but I did not join them.  Even Lyra, who longs to escape the house, didn't try to go out...  She's a smart kitty!

Seen From the Bear Lake Trail in Rocky Mountain National Park

Beatrice, my apartment sharer, and I went up to Bear Lake yesterday,and walked the short trail around it.  Here are some photos:

Me, acting the fool - I had no idea how ugly my poor knees are until I saw this photo...

Beatrice (Bea), my apartment sharer, and the Park Ranger

After leaving Bear Lake, we stopped and I took these photos from the Glacier Gorge overlook:

                                       

Snowy, Cold Thanksgiving

It started snowing, lightly, Wednesday night; it's almost noon on Friday, and it's still lightly snowing.  We've had about six inches fall so far - very light, fluffy, icy stuff.  Lovey has declined to step out onto the balcony, while Nedi goes out about three times a day.  Since our high temperatures have been in the teens, and the lows in the single digits, Nedi hasn't stayed outside more than 5 minutes at a time (at his discretion).
  Beatrice had to work a four-hour shift yesterday, from 1 until 5 p.m.; she's working noon 'til 9 tonight.  I've had it easy - Only had to go to the Dellwood house once yesterday and today - the cats are inside, so I clean the litter box, and make sure they have plenty of food and water; the hens are in the coop, and I make sure they have water and feed. Both sets of critters will be allowed out tomorrow, when we're supposed to get up to 30 degrees (F).  Yesterday we stayed below 25 degrees, and today we'll stay below 20.  Brrrrrrr.
  At least we're all enjoying the warmth of the new apartment, and the new space heater - even the cats.  Bea bought each of them an insulated and self-warming bed a couple of weeks ago, and we've placed them near the space heater in the living room.  Seems like the kitties have been glued there.
  For Thanksgiving yesterday, I fixed a small brown sugar glazed ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, honey glazed carrots, green beans with bacon, home made drop biscuits, pumpkin pie, and fresh gingerbread.  It was fantastic.   Then we had the biscuits, gravy, and ham for breakfast, too...  Yum.
    Having the "On Demand" service on our television is addictive.  I don't watch many shows - the daily local news and Jeopardy! - but I used to make sure I was sitting down and watching a specific program at a certain time on a certain night.  Now I can see my five shows at any time, and it's terribly gratifying, some how.   Which five shows?  Currently, NCIS. The Blacklist, Blue Bloods, How To Get Away With Murder, and Gotham.  In a few months, I'll have to add Vikings to the list.
   Oh, well - I'm reading, doing research, and playing with my kits and  all the critters I care for, otherwise.  It's not a bad life.

A Pleasant Saturday

I had a great day with Tess, Lyra and Lily yesterday.  We had a super morning, and both yesterday and today I was able to allow Tess off-leash, so she could run around and be a dog.  I met Beatrice for brunch, and we ate at Turley's and had out favorite wait-person, Ashley, so we left her a huge tip.  Then we went back to the house, and sat on the patio by the koi pond and talked for hours.  Finally we visited China Gourmet and had an exquisite dinner.  When I got back to the house, I was surprised to see cars parked all over the place in the corner of the neighborhood.  Turns out that Sara L was having a open pot-luck for her friends and neighbors, and Camilla informed me that I was invited.  I sat and read a book while dusk drew in.  I had filled one of the suet feeders yesterday afternoon, and was amazed, because I had just filled it Friday.  This morning, I was awakened at 1:25 by a very loud bit of squabbling outside - turns out a family of raccoons was raiding the suet feeder, and they were fussing at one another.  No wonder the entire suet block is disappearing in less than 8 hours!
  Boo ate some of the dry kibble I left for her yesterday morning, so I want to check in and see if she has continued eating.  She used to take longer than her Mom to eat, but she was usually finished eating her portion (twice a day) in a bout five minutes.  She's only been eating a mouthful, or so, once a day.  She's alert, but is losing weight, and is now losing some of her energy.  We're all worried about her.
   If you live in the Fort Collins or Boulder area, and want to adopt a cat, please visit the Fort Collins Cat Rescue and Spay and Neuter Clinic - they have recently received 150 cats and kittens under 6 months of age, and are seeking adoptive homes, foster homes, and donations.  You can visit their web site at:  http://www.fccrsnc.org/
   Nedi was waiting for me at the front door his morning when I returned home, but Lovey gave me the cold shoulder.  It took her 30 minutes to decide that I could give her some love and attention...  Now she's sitting at the top of the cat tree and is looking out into the back yard.  I'll need to round up Nedi and Bob in a few minutes, and get ready to head back to Tess's house.